A significant difference between Brexit (2020) and the English Reformation (1534) has been the character of the reaction from the Continent. To the former, it was one of "I'm never gonna let you go" (Well & Mann, 1982) while to the latter, it has been more "hit the road, Jack, and don't ya come back, no more" (Mayfield, 1960). 

From history, e.g. the withdrawal of the North American colonies from the British Empire (1776) and the secession of the Confederate States from the United States (1861), it seemed reasonable to image that any member seeking to depart from the European Union — once it had been formed — would prompt a continent-wide war — called either revolution or civil war, depending the outcome. 

When history repeats, this is to be expected. 

When it fails to repeat, this is to be appreciated.